Chapter 24: What a Dream! Part 2

Fidelis looked around at the forest and frowned. This wasn't the forest of High Knob. He was somewhere unfamiliar and instantly went on alert. In the distance, he could hear the sounds of battle. He rushed toward them and came to a halt as he watched Poten and Cornibus soldiers fighting and dying in a heated battle. This was not a battle he remembered fighting. Suddenly he spotted a man and a woman fighting back-to-back. He felt like he knew them.

"Help them," a woman's voice whispered to him. He glanced around but no one was near him. What was going on?

"Please save them!"

Before he realized it, he was moving in a rush toward them, drawing his sword and slashing at all in his path. He reached them and saw the man nod. He would help them. It was only right to do so. He was so engrossed in fighting that he heard the voice's warning too late.

"Look out! It's coming!"

Fidelis's eyes widened in shock as a red fog that reeked of evil rushed toward him and the pair he was protecting. He started to yell a warning, but his voice died, and instead fiery agony raced through his body as the fog engulfed his body.

Fidelis startled awake, jerking upright, his frantic eyes searching the room for an enemy that wasn't there.

"What the hell?" he mumbled and rubbed his face. The sun was shining, and he glanced at the clock. It was ten. He needed to get dressed. He was supposed to meet with his father and High Priest Michaelus. He wanted to speak to the priest about the dreams he'd been having for about a month. He felt that there was some meaning to them. He just didn't know what it was.

He rang for Sodalitas and waited for him to arrive and help him dress.

"Is my father waiting for me?"

"Yes, Your Highness. He is with High Priest Michaelus."

"Good. Let's go." Fidelis left his room and went to his father's study. He entered after knocking and bowed to his father and the high priest.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Michaelus bowed low. "I heard you needed to speak with me."

"Yes. It is about the dreams I've been having."

"Indeed? I'm all ears."

Fidelis laughed at his joke and proceeded to tell him about the dreams. Once he finished the study was quiet as both his father and the high priest solemnly regarded him.

"Your Highness, your father told me about your fated mark. And if I'm understanding correctly, the dreams started after it appeared."

"Yes, this is true."

"I find it interesting that you protected a Poten man and woman in your dream. Do you know them?"

"No, I've never met them. However, in the dream, I felt that they were familiar to me. Also, the voice that urged me to save them made my heart hurt. I truly felt that if I didn't at least try to save that pair that the voice would be disappointed in me and leave. I didn't want that."

Michaelus frowned at his statement. "We are in uncharted territory. Though we have some books on fated mates, there are not a lot, and they are not very detailed. I believe the voice you heard was your mate. The pair that you helped have a connection to your mate." He paused and continued after a brief hesitation. "Your Highness. Have you noticed any changes?"

Fidelis was surprised by the question. "What are you asking?"

"Your Highness, your magical power seems to have increased."

"What?" He closed his eyes and reached for the source of his magic. It took a few seconds, and he raised startled eyes to the high priest. "Is this normal?"

"Your Highness, again, I must stress that everything occurring is unknown to us."

"I don't mind the boost but if it will cost me something, I'd rather not have it."

"If I had to guess, I'd say you are drawing power from your mate,"

"How is that possible? My mate is a human."

"Some humans are sensitive and able to tap into what little magic this world has."

Fidelis pondered the high priest's words. If it were true, that would be great. He decided that worrying about it wouldn't change anything.

"I understand. I think my best course of action is to visit the nearby towns more so I can find my mate."

"It's not a bad idea. Please be careful, Your Highness during your search."

Fidelis smiled. "I will. Don't worry. Thank you for speaking with me." He glanced at his father. "With your leave, Your Majesty."

His father nodded. "You may go. Happy hunting, my son."

Fidelis grinned. Hunting he was good at. He would find his mate and never let her go.